Teffi: advice about how to avoid being seasick.

[Hugh Olmsted]

Robert – 

This is the first time I've weighed in, I think, in response to one of your always worthy and interesting questions. 

In my experience,"затылок" refers not to the nape of one's neck (unless perhaps a British nape is different from those of us colonials) but to the back of one's head. Standard Russian dictionaries bear this out, although it's true that Google translate does give 'nape of the neck' as one of the possible English equivalents of the term. It seems to me that Teffy's помощник is talking about pressing the back of your head against, presumably, the chair in which you're sitting and simultaneously arching your back – thereby tightening your stomach muscles and taking their mind off of seasickness. 

And I join those who take the корка as referring to the lemon rind, together with salt. Here I'm buttressed by my wife's recollection of bytovye traditsii that something кисленькое or something соленое can be a helpful remedy. And here we would have both. 

With respect and best wishes for your work, 

Hugh 
----- Original Message -----

From: "Robert Chandler" <kcf19 at DIAL.PIPEX.COM> 
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU 
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2014 7:45:15 AM 
Subject: [SEELANGS] Teffi: advice about how to avoid being seasick. 

Dear all, 

За завтраком мой помещик совсем разошелся: давал всем советы, как нужно сидеть, и как нужно лежать, и о чем нужно думать, и как сосать лимон и жевать корку с солью, и упираться затылком, и стараться выгнуть спину, и чего-чего только не было. 

ТWO QUESTIONS here: 
1. Can I be confident that корку means the rind of the lemon, rather than a crust of bread? 
2. Does упираться затылком mean to press one’s hand against the nape of one’s neck, or to press the nape of one’s neck against something? 

For what it is worth, here is a very provisional attempt at this passage. 

During breakfast this landowner of mine became quite eloquent, advising everyone about the best way to sit, the best way to lie, the importance of sucking on a lemon, of chewing on the rind along with a little salt, pressing against the back of your head, arching your back and heaven knows what else. 

All the best, and thanks! 

Robert 

Robert Chandler, 42 Milson Road, London, W14 OLD 

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